"I knew her for 50 years. She came from a great family at St. Peter, Cambridge. Phenomenal educator," Msgr. Kevin J. O'Leary described Sister Clare E. Fitzgerald, SSND, who died Jan. 27, 2025, in Bridgeport, Connecticut. She had celebrated her 100th birthday on Sept. 15, 2024.

Born in Cambridge, she was one of the six children of the late William and Jane (Nolan) Fitzgerald. She is survived by her sister, Theresa Quigley, Framingham. Raised in St. Peter Parish, Clare attended the parish school, where she first met the School Sisters of Notre Dame, who impressed her with their learning but more with their commitment to educating their students.

She entered the SSND in Baltimore in 1942 following her high school graduation and received the name Sister Mary Nivard. Following her formation and college education, she was assigned to teach elementary school in Baltimore. The tradition of the SSND was that all sisters started their teaching careers in an elementary school.

She taught at all levels of Catholic education, including stints at the American Studies Program at Fairfield University; and as founding director of the Program in Catholic Educational Leadership at Boston College, shaping several generations of Catholic school leaders from the United States and beyond.

She was widely sought after as a consultant for Catholic schools and lectured widely. She served as provincial of the Baltimore Province of the Schools Sisters of Notre Dame and also as the president of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, an association for the leaders of women religious in the United States.

Over her long and active life, Sister Clare made innumerable friends, affected many lives, and demonstrated an unstoppable commitment to Catholic education.

Sister Clare's funeral Mass was celebrated Feb. 9, 2025, at St. Andrew Church, Bridgeport, Connecticut. Following the funeral Mass, Sister Clare was buried in the School Sisters of Notre Dame section of St. Mary Cemetery, Bethel.